Book Festivals

Apparently there are over 350 literature festivals held throughout the UK and Ireland every year.  So where does this insatiable appetite to hold these events come from I wonder.  I suspect The Muser might be hinting he thinks it is just a cunning money making idea of the publishers.

I love the association of the words literature and festival, the idea that people are coming together to celebrate the written word in so many of its glorious forms.  Since the creative process is largely mysterious to those of us who are not creative, writers can hold a real fascination.  Being able to attract such large numbers to these festivals it’s as though the participating authors have achieved a status of celebrity alongside the TV cooks who are promoting their latest recipe book or the sporting heroes who have published their autobiography.

Aside from festivals there are writers and poets reading their work to audiences in libraries, theatres and even clubs and bars. When I attend these events and festivals what I enjoy is a sense of being with other people who share my joy and pleasure in the writing of a particular author.  I love to hear first-hand about the process of their writing, where their inspiration has come from and to show my appreciation for what they have written by being there.

I am off to the Cheltenham Literary Festival 2014 tomorrow, if I don’t see you there I hope you enjoy this selection of exclusive author interviews GLBTS has available from some of the headliners at this year’s festival, and if that isn’t enough to delight you Kate Atkinson will send a copy of her latest novel ‘Life after Life’ to three lucky winners who have entered our prize draw competition.